Role of feather reed grass (Calamagrostis acutiflora) in phytoremediation of urban soils.

Samples of soil and aerial mass of Calamagrostis acutiflora were obtained from an urban area adjacent to a street. The sampled material was analyzed to determine the content of Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Co, in addition to which soil was analyzed for the content of total organic carbon (TOC), salinity (EC) and reaction (pH). Based on the results, the enrichment factor (EF) and biological accumulation coefficient (BAC) of heavy metals as well as correlations between the analyzed characteristics were calculated. The content of heavy metals in the soil did not exceed the standards set for transportation areas, but the EF value implicated anthropogenic enrichment of soils with Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd and Co. Numerous, highly significant and positive correlations were obtained between the content of the elements in the soil, plants and in the soil-plant system, which suggests their relatively high bioavailability. The BAC values achieved for Co, Cr, Cu, Cd and Ni indicate that Calamagrostis acutiflora can be a useful species for phytoextraction of these elements from urban soils. Moreover, Calamagrostis acutiflora is a good choice for planting in urban areas due to its good adaptability, long growing season and tall conformation.

This study enabled us to the determine the usefulness of Calamagrostis acutiflora for phytoextraction of heavy metals (Fe, Mn, Zn, Cu, Pb, Cd, Ni, Cr and Co) from urban soils exposed to transportation pressure. This aspect of the said grass species has not been evaluated previously; meanwhile, owing to its high esthetic value, the grass can be an interesting choice in the landscaping of urban areas. The evaluation was based on determinations of the elements in the soil and in aerial biomass of Calamagrostis acutiflora sampled from an urban area adjacent to a busy street. The phytoremediation potential of Calamagrostis acutiflora was assessed according to the calculated biological accumulation coefficient (BAC). Furthermore, the enrichment factor (EF) for the heavy metals in the soil was determined, which enabled us to identify the extent of anthropogenic pressure in this area. Other determinations included basic soil physicochemical properties (TOC, pH, EC), which in practice will facilitate a choice of sites to be planted with Calamagrostis acutiflora in the future.

Role of Woody Biomass Ash Material in Immobilization of Cadmium, Lead and Zinc in Soil.

Nowadays, we have observed the dynamic development of bio-heating plants that use wood biomass for heating or energy purposes. The result of this process is a reduction in carbon dioxide emissions as well as in the production of biomass ash (BA). Despite the waste nature of BA, it should be carefully analyzed and assessed for various applications, including environmental ones. Due to the features attributed to BA, including its alkaline reaction, the high capacity of its sorption complex, relatively low salinity, and significant content of macro- and microelements, a hypothesis was put forward in this work undertaken about the positive role of BA as an immobilizing factor for Cd-, Pb-, and Zn-contaminated soils. This research was based on a pot experiment in which four series were considered: (1) BA; (2) BA + Cd; (3) BA + Pb; and (4) BA + Zn. BA was used at doses of 30, 60, and 90 mg pot-1, and metals at doses of 2 mg Cd, 100 mg Pb, and 300 mg Zn kg-1 of soil. The test plant was corn grown for green mass. The study took into account the influence of BA on the content of the total forms of heavy metals (Metot) and their available forms (Meav). In the soil without the addition of metals, a significant increase in the content of Cdtot and Cdav, and a decrease in the content of Zntot were observed due to the application of BA. The addition of metals against the background of the BA used resulted in a significant increase in Cdtot, Pbtot, and Zntot, as well as an increase in the available forms of Pbav but a decrease in Znav. However, there was no significant increase in the Cdav content. The obtained results may indicate the potentially immobilizing role of BA only in the case of zinc. They may constitute the basis for further, more detailed research aimed at determining the role of BA in the immobilization of various metals in soil.

Effect of Mineral-Microbial Deodorizing Preparation on the Value of Poultry Manure as Soil Amendment.

Poultry farming involves the production of poultry manures (PMs), which, if properly managed, are excellent organic soil amendments. Poultry farms generally do not have adequate arable land, and therefore, valuable fertilizer becomes a problematic waste. During the production and storage of PMs, odorous VOCs, NH4, H2S, and potent greenhouse gases such as CH4, CO2 are emitted. It influences the productivity of poultry and negatively affects the working conditions of working staff. In the present study, mineral-microbial deodorizing preparations (MMDP) based on perlite and bentonite as well as the following microorganism strains Lactobacillus plantarum, Leuconostoc mesenteroides, Bacillus megaterium, B. subtilis, and Pseudomonas fluorescens were added to the litter of turkey broilers (TB) and egg-laying hens (LH). PMs were compared with treatments without the addition of MMDP, and maize, sunflower, and rapeseed forage crops were tested. The influence on soil parameters such as pH, EC, HAC, SBC, CEC, BS, Ntot, Ctot, and plant yield and parameter of photosynthesis, i.e., SPAD index, was tested. Soil amending with manure resulted in an increase in pH and a decrease in HAC; in addition, an increase in EC, which was counteracted by the addition of MMDP, was noted. MMDP positively affected parameters such as SBC, CEC, and BS. It was shown that PMs, with the addition of MMDP, improved crops' yield in the first year of the study, whereas this effect was not seen for the after-crop plants (lupine). The main 'added value' related to the usage of MMDP in poultry production is the improvement in the properties of PMs, which mainly had a positive effect on soil indicators.

Mineral Materials as a Neutralizing Agent Used on Soil Contaminated with Copper.

The aim of the investigation was to evaluate the response of plants, using black mustard (Brassica nigra L. Koch) as a model plant, to soil contamination with copper (0, 200, 400, 600 mg Cu kg-1 of soil), and to determine the effectiveness of the Cu immobilization with mineral neutralizing materials, such as lime, clay and zeolite. The plant yield depended on soil contamination and mineral amendments. In the series without neutralizing materials, the level of 600 mg Cu kg-1 reduced the yield and increased leaf greenness. Lime alleviated the toxicity of Cu in objects with 200 mg Cu kg-1. Zeolite slightly mitigated the harmful effects of Cu at the level of 400 and 600 mg kg-1. Zeolite lowered the SPAD index. In the chemical composition of plants, the content of Cu, K, Mg, Na and Ca in plants increased to 400 mg Cu kg-1, while the content of P decreased to 600 mg Cu kg-1. Among the materials, lime reduced the Cu accumulation in plants the most, followed by clay. Cu narrowed the majority of ratios and widened the Ca:P and K:Ca ratios in plants. The applied mineral materials, except lime, did not significantly affect the formation of these indicators.